Western Area Career System

Western Area Career System (WACS) is a non-profit educational system that was established in the mid 1980's by the Illinois State Board of Education. Western Area Career System is one of over 50 Education for Employment Systems that provide a variety of services and benefits to school districts, serving 15 school districts in West Central Illinois.

Systems provide staff development to teachers, work with post secondary institutions to provide seamless transition to career technical programs by aligning career programs with community colleges including STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs and providing programs and support services to special needs students. Western Area Career 'system works with other organizations including Workforce Investment, Macomb Area Economic Development Corporation, Department of Human Services, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Western Illinois University, two community colleges (Carl Sandberg College and Spoon River College) and employers in the area to meet labor market needs.